Mariners sail to home win

FT: Grimsby Town 31 Tamworth

28 September 2013

Following the impressive 2-1 away victory at Forest Green in midweek, Dale Belford brought his squad to Blundell Park to take on Grimsby Town looking to keep the form and winning mentality going.With Wayne Thomas injured Belford made one change to the side that ran out at The New Lawn and Ben-Richards Everton returned from suspension in his place.Tamworth interest came in a couple of ways, with Alex Rodman starting the game on the bench for the home side, Jonathan Hedge watching with his teammates from the stands, and former Lambs player (and West Brom, Walsall and Mariners manager) Alan Buckley sat in the press bench.After a minutes silence, The Mariners got the game underway with Tamworth kicking towards the small group of travelling fans behind the goal.An early freekick allowed Capaldi to fire the ball in from the right wing but despite the attempted header from Courtney, keeper McKeown got his first touch.Evans picked up a yellow card for a challenge on Neilson on 7 and John-Lewis blazed high iver the target from the right in the next move.On 16 Courtney gave away a freekick with a lunging foul on John-Lewis and Hatton's right footed freekick beat the wall and Belford but not the right hand upright and was cleared to safety.More pressure came from the home side in the ensuing play and a couple of last ditch tackles from Richards-Everton and Kerry prevented clean strikes on goal.Wright struck a tame shot at McKeown on 20 and the ball over the top of the Lambs defence found Disley down the right on 23 but his shot was tame too.Capaldi denied the far post header of John-Lewis on 27 and Elford-Alliyu struck for goal as The Lambs burst forwards winning a corner with his slightly deflected effort which Capaldi lifted into the box right footed but it went long and Capaldi was forced to goo the other side of the pitch for the long throw which was cleared from danger.Another corner was forthcoming on the half hour after some good forward attacking passing play down the left wing Capaldi made a fine headed clearance on 33 to deny Disley's presence in the box and when The Lambs broke to the other end Peniket was denied by Doig for a corner and McKeown was forced to punch the dead ball clear.Evans tried a shot from the right channel on 39 and a corner was the result as it took a deflection over the target before being cleared away by the Grimsby defence.The half ran out without too much to write home about and a clash of heads caused a brief stop in play while Richards-Everton received treatment before one minute added time was played out.

HT: Grimsby Town 00 Tamworth

Tamworth got the second half underway and an early throw from Courtney found Todd at the far post but he was unable to force the ball in the right direction before forcing a corner.on the left but McKeown was able to gather the dead ball.A foul by Baker on Hatton on 52 gave the home side a freekick 35 yards from goal and despite Richards-Everto having to leave the field for his head injury to be seen to play continued.Then on 56 the Mariners took the lead when a corner, drilled from the left side came into the crowded box and was fired low past Belford from just a few yards out by Pearson.And 10 minutes later it was two following a foul by Richards-Everton on Disley in the area and the referee made no hesitation in pointing to the spot allowing Hannah to fire home from the penalty spot.Richards-Everton was forced off the field again on 72 and while h was receiving treatment a long throw from the left by Capaldi was flicked on and fell for Todd who span on the spot and fired home at the far post to give The Lambs a lifeline (1-2, 73 mins)The home side regained their two goal lead on 83 through sub Hearn who burst through own the left channel and although Belford got a touch to his angled shot the ball bounced into the net in the right of the goal. (1-3, 83 mins)And despite for minutes added time there was little The Lambs could do to reduce the scoreline although a good ball from Evans was only just missed by both Peniket and Elford-Alliyu in the only real chance before the final whistle blew.